Teen masters self-discipline, seeks taekwondo black belt

Jesse Power (right), 14, takes a swallow form front stance while posing with his instructor, Master Martin Douglas, at TRU Taekwondo Center in Winston-Salem. After two years of classes, Jesse is nearing his black belt attainment.

Published: Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 11:50 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 12:00 p.m.

Having the self-discipline to become a black belt in taekwondo is hard enough, but it is even more so when you are a teenager who struggles with a condition that makes it more difficult to focus and limits your physical skills.

Jesse Power, 14, a seventh-grader at Oak Grove Middle School, will take his black belt test in taekwondo in May. Jesse has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a type of high-functioning autism, which includes coordination problems, difficulty making social connections and issues with personal boundaries. But Jesse does not let his medical condition define him. In fact, he uses his challenges to excel at the art he loves.

“Taekwondo is about what you can do,” Jesse said. “It doesn’t matter what they can do, it is your individual journey. There was a time when I wanted to quit, but my mom didn’t really give me a choice because we aren’t quitters. It’s one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it’s worth it.”

Jesse is the son of Tommy Power and Emily and Jimmy Walser. He has an older brother, Frank. Jesse began his taekwondo training three years ago when his father suggested he give it a try. He had taken karate when he was much younger, but it didn’t interest him the way taekwondo did.

His father said he suggested the idea to give his son a physical outlet.

“It was something to channel his energy,” Tommy Power said. “It was something he took to naturally.”

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that includes physical skills and mental discipline. Master Martin Douglas of the TRU Taekwondo Center in Winston-Salem has been Jesse’s trainer, confidant and, as Jesse puts it, “a third father” to him for the last three years.

“Sometimes he is hard on me,” Jesse said. “He pushes my buttons a lot, but the reason he does that is because he knows I’m not trying. He demands absolute focus and concentration. He is very open to listen to my problems. He is someone who won’t judge me.”

Douglas said he has seen a big improvement in Jesse over the years and is impressed by his commitment.

“Jesse has turned a huge corner, especially over the last six months,” Douglas said. “He was always getting into fights, where he was actually defending himself from kids who were picking on him, and he would make bad decisions. Now he comes in early and helps out in the class and has become a huge role model for others. He is a great kid. With everything that is going against him, it is a huge accomplishment to sticking to it. I can’t even get some adults to stick to something for three years. ”

The name of Douglas’s martial art center, TRU, stands for trust, respect and understanding. Douglas said Jesse has taken the discipline of taekwondo and let it influence other areas in his life.

“I always told him that when you get upset, you make bad decisions and you end up getting yourself in trouble,” Douglas said. “I think he is beginning to understand it’s all how you react. The self-control that comes along with this training has helped him master that.”

Each student in taekwondo has a different skill level, which is reflected in the color belt worn. Each belt coincides with a proven level of competence. Achieving a belt isn’t just a matter of spending enough time in a previous belt. In order to achieve the next rank, a student must demonstrate proficiency in the current belt’s techniques, including basic moves, sparring and form.

The belt for a beginner is white and progresses to orange, yellow and all the way to black, for 11 in total. The test for a black belt can take anywhere from two to four hours and can includes all the skills learned up to that point. It can also include upward of 400 punches, kicks and other physical demonstrations. Jesse said he will attempt to break a cinder block as one of his challenges.

Jesse and Douglas have been preparing for the test by undergoing training sessions on a weekly basis. Jesse said it has been difficult but rewarding.

“I could hardly walk after my second training session,” Jesse said. “My legs started to wobble, and I sweated more than I have ever sweated before in my life. They expect 115 percent from the time you step on the mat.”

Douglas said Jesse has even become a leader at the center, and he could see him continuing his training to the level of becoming a master.

“I train a lot of people,” Douglas said. “It is people like Jesse that keeps me doing what I do. He is also one of the few people that tries hard the entire time. I wish more people understood what it is we do. It is more than a bunch of kicking and punching. It strengthens his social skills, his motor skills and his self-discipline. I could see him becoming a master himself and giving back to others what was given to him. He’s a great kid.”

Sharon Myers can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 228 or at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow Sharon on Twitter: @LexDisptachSM

<p>Having the self-discipline to become a black belt in taekwondo is hard enough, but it is even more so when you are a teenager who struggles with a condition that makes it more difficult to focus and limits your physical skills.</p><p>Jesse Power, 14, a seventh-grader at Oak Grove Middle School, will take his black belt test in taekwondo in May. Jesse has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a type of high-functioning autism, which includes coordination problems, difficulty making social connections and issues with personal boundaries. But Jesse does not let his medical condition define him. In fact, he uses his challenges to excel at the art he loves.</p><p>“Taekwondo is about what you can do,” Jesse said. “It doesn't matter what they can do, it is your individual journey. There was a time when I wanted to quit, but my mom didn't really give me a choice because we aren't quitters. It's one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it's worth it.”</p><p>Jesse is the son of Tommy Power and Emily and Jimmy Walser. He has an older brother, Frank. Jesse began his taekwondo training three years ago when his father suggested he give it a try. He had taken karate when he was much younger, but it didn't interest him the way taekwondo did. </p><p>His father said he suggested the idea to give his son a physical outlet.</p><p>“It was something to channel his energy,” Tommy Power said. “It was something he took to naturally.”</p><p>Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that includes physical skills and mental discipline. Master Martin Douglas of the TRU Taekwondo Center in Winston-Salem has been Jesse's trainer, confidant and, as Jesse puts it, “a third father” to him for the last three years. </p><p>“Sometimes he is hard on me,” Jesse said. “He pushes my buttons a lot, but the reason he does that is because he knows I'm not trying. He demands absolute focus and concentration. He is very open to listen to my problems. He is someone who won't judge me.”</p><p>Douglas said he has seen a big improvement in Jesse over the years and is impressed by his commitment. </p><p>“Jesse has turned a huge corner, especially over the last six months,” Douglas said. “He was always getting into fights, where he was actually defending himself from kids who were picking on him, and he would make bad decisions. Now he comes in early and helps out in the class and has become a huge role model for others. He is a great kid. With everything that is going against him, it is a huge accomplishment to sticking to it. I can't even get some adults to stick to something for three years. ”</p><p>The name of Douglas's martial art center, TRU, stands for trust, respect and understanding. Douglas said Jesse has taken the discipline of taekwondo and let it influence other areas in his life. </p><p>“I always told him that when you get upset, you make bad decisions and you end up getting yourself in trouble,” Douglas said. “I think he is beginning to understand it's all how you react. The self-control that comes along with this training has helped him master that.” </p><p>Each student in taekwondo has a different skill level, which is reflected in the color belt worn. Each belt coincides with a proven level of competence. Achieving a belt isn't just a matter of spending enough time in a previous belt. In order to achieve the next rank, a student must demonstrate proficiency in the current belt's techniques, including basic moves, sparring and form.</p><p>The belt for a beginner is white and progresses to orange, yellow and all the way to black, for 11 in total. The test for a black belt can take anywhere from two to four hours and can includes all the skills learned up to that point. It can also include upward of 400 punches, kicks and other physical demonstrations. Jesse said he will attempt to break a cinder block as one of his challenges. </p><p>Jesse and Douglas have been preparing for the test by undergoing training sessions on a weekly basis. Jesse said it has been difficult but rewarding.</p><p>“I could hardly walk after my second training session,” Jesse said. “My legs started to wobble, and I sweated more than I have ever sweated before in my life. They expect 115 percent from the time you step on the mat.”</p><p>Douglas said Jesse has even become a leader at the center, and he could see him continuing his training to the level of becoming a master. </p><p>“I train a lot of people,” Douglas said. “It is people like Jesse that keeps me doing what I do. He is also one of the few people that tries hard the entire time. I wish more people understood what it is we do. It is more than a bunch of kicking and punching. It strengthens his social skills, his motor skills and his self-discipline. I could see him becoming a master himself and giving back to others what was given to him. He's a great kid.”</p><p>Sharon Myers can be reached at 249-3981, ext, 228 or at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow Sharon on Twitter: @LexDisptachSM</p>